MOTORISTS in Somerset are set to be taught by parish councils to drive more safely after shocking new statistics revealed that 60 per cent

MOTORISTS in Somerset are set to be taught by parish councils to drive more safely after shocking new statistics revealed that 60 per cent of road casualties in the county happened on the A38.The road runs through several Sedgemoor blackspots and residents in and around Cross and Compton Bishop have been campaigning to make it safer for several years.The Somerset Road Safety Partnership (SRSP) announced that more than 720 injuries were recorded on the road in the last five years and believes local drivers are to blame. Spokesman David Gollicker said: "The A38, which runs through villages including Cross, Weare and the Allertons, is one of 10 roads which have the most collisions."We are not calling them dangerous roads because there is no such thing, only dangerous drivers."Local people think they know the area really well but they don't know what is going to be on the road around the next bend. Somerset has a large farming community and a slow moving tractor or an animal could be in the road at any given time."Parish councils along the A38 have been invited to two forums, which will be held by the SRSP over the next month. The councils will be given information on educating drivers, traffic signs and engineering works that will be going on, all aimed at reducing accidents on the road.The notorious road stretches for 55km along the county and 57 parish councils have been invited to the forums.Mr Gollicker added: "It is important we get the message across to help reduce the number of casualties. National statistics show an accident is most likely to happen within 10 miles of drivers' homes. "You only have to look at newspapers and the television to see how serious accidents can be."Most drivers believe they are above average, but the sad fact is they aren't. Speed cameras and warning signs can only do so much. The only way to permanently reduce accidents is to educate the drivers."Compton Bishop Parish Council is currently campaigning for traffic calming measures such as traffic lights or a roundabout to be installed at Cross crossroads, a notorious accident blackspot.